I saw the crowds, I saw them shouting them down.
Chanting "shame on you, shame on you!"
Cops had hands on night sticks with nervous looks behind plastic
facing an army of cell phone camera crews

It makes you want to curse, setting off vibrations in the universe
with a shock wave slapping the stupid senseless
But I've got a paralysis of heart, hesitating to jump start
under the weight of it all seeming useless

Pepper Spray from a top down "OK"
Just give the word and this embarrassment will go away
It's a goddamn election year,
the media will jump on this like a horsefly on a steer
and I need it gone!

The cops traded in their blues and their citation pads
for training in military tactics, swat teams and battering rams
tell them they're fighting a war, fit them with military drag
and they'll raid your house, shoot your dog, and bust you for a dime bag

Now it's force first, 'cause there's no consequences for using it
they'll taser you to comply and arrest you for dissent
when the public gets violent everybody says they were out of their minds
when the state gets violent we accept it as justified

Pepper Spray from a top down "OK"
just give the word and this embarrassment will go away
If you build it they will come
gives our constituents jobs and it gives cops M16 guns

Will you comply? Will you comply?
You have the freedom to do as we tell you